Wednesday, June 25, 2014

(Remembering
a kindhearted Dalit King on his140th Birthday falling on 26th June,2014)

Rajarshi Chhatrapati ShahuJi Maharaj was the
Maharaja or the king of an Indian princely State
Kolhapur and was known to be a
great social reformer of his time. Shahu was a staunch follower of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and devoted his life for the
up-liftment of his subjects including
untouchables. He was described by his renowned biographer
Shri A.B. Latthe as "The greatest Maharaja
that ever sat on the thrown of Kohlapur and one of the powerful men that the nation ever produced in its
long& brilliant history".
Chhatarpati Shahu Ji Maharaja's concern for good administration can be judged from his statement "Although I am on the throne of Kohlapur, I feel proud to call
myself as solider, farmer or labourer. While addressing meeting in
Madras he said " I am here not as king
but friend to those whose pitiable condition shall melt even a stone hearted person "

Rajarshi Shahu Chhatrapati was born on 26
July in the year 1874 as Yeshwantrao
Ghatge. He was the eldest son of Narayan Dinkarrao
Ghatke also called Appa saheb Ghatge and his wife Radhabai,. Narayan Dinkarrao Ghatke was the head of Kagal and his wife was the daughter of the Raja of Mudhol
that's in today's Karnataka state..
Narayan Dinkarrao Ghatke was Regent to Kohlapur
State, so lived in Laxminivas Palace in Kohlapur where Yeshwantrao
Ghatge was born. This caused Shahu's family to remain closely associated with the ruling dynasty of Kolhapur. It also helped Shahu Chhatrapati's descending on the
throne despite his not being a
male-line member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shahu Ji Maharaj lost his father at the age of 12 years and
his mother when he was only three
years. Young prince Shahu received his
earlier education under the care of
his father. As luck would have it Yeshwantrao Ghatge when a child of only 10
years, he was adopted by Anandibai, the widow of Chhatarpati Maharaja
Shivaji IV ( Narayanarao) of Kolhapur on
March 17th, 1884. So he ascended to the throne of Kohlapur Chhatrapati and was given the name as
Shahu Ji Maharaj at an early age of
12years only. Appasaheb Ghatge passed away on 20th March 1886.

Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj was married to
Shrimati Lakshmibai née Khanvilkar (1880–1945),, the daughter of a Maratha nobleman shri
Meharban Gunajirao Khanvilkar from Baroda having blood relation with Chhatrapati of Satara. His 11 years old bride was
selected by his father before his
death. Shahu Ji's marriage was ceremonised on 1st, April 1891, But as per the will of his father Shahu Ji
was not to touch his wife and
maintain strict celibacy till he was 18 years old and fully grown up so
as to father healthy children, Shahu Ji Maharaj
couple was blessed with four children. Shahu Ji Maharaj was over five
feet and nine inches in height and bore majestic appearance of a real Maratha king. Wrestling was one of the favorite sports of Chhatrapati Shahu. Wrestlers
from all over the country would come to his state of Kolhapur to participate in
the wrestling competition.

After the untimely death of his father people
became worried as to how to look after the minor king. Mr. William Lee-Warner a
friend of Appa saheb Ghatge was then
Assistant Political Agent to Kohlapur & Secretary to Bombay State. He
decided to sent Shahu Ji to Rajkot for study. Mr. William Lee-Warner also got
appointed Sir Sturt Milford Fraser I.C.S.as tutor and
guardian to Shahu Ji .So
Shahu Ji got his Education at Dharwad in karnaka, about 130 kilometers from Kohlapur. At Dharwad Shahu Ji
was given regular sound education. He
was taught English, Arithmetic, Geography, economic,
Law, Revenue and others connected subjects. After school timing Shahu Ji attended to Drill, games and martial arts.

At regular interval he was taken to rural
areas , places of pilgrimages, office and other work
places , so as to make him acquaint with local problems which he was supposed
to face in future as a king. After receiving
proper training and education in all
administrative spheres Chhatrapati Shahu Ji's coronation took place on2nd April, 1894 with Royal pump &
show. Therefore after 32 years Kohlapur State was put under direct rule
of their Chhatarpati. Lokmanya Tilak and
neighboring rulers wished Shahu Ji
Maharaj all success.

Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj is known to
have done a lot for the upliftment of
the poor and the down trodden. Shahu Chhatrapati
tried his level best to make education and jobs available to all those living in his domain. He
created history by becoming light
of masses, eradication of poverty, ignorance, backwardness, equality among all his subjects under his
Government orders. He tried
to remove Superstitions from the mind of the backward classes by giving them free and compulsory education He
studied closely the situation in spread of education among his subjects through Government and private run schools. He
found the following report data prepared in 1850.

Community

Students in

Students in

English Schools

Vernacular Schools

Brahmin

47

46

Sheinvis

07

—

Prabhu

05

—

Maratha

03

04

Muslim

03

—

Oil Presser (Teli)

01

03

Ginjin

01

—

Kodale

01

—

Sunar( Goldsmiths)

—

03

Kesar

—

02

Shilpi( Tailor)

—

01

Others

03

—

Total

71

59

Note: - Vide Graham D.C.:
The Statical Report of the Principality Of Kohlapur

The Maharaja came in contact with Dr B.R. Ambedkar and was greatly impressed by his revolutionary
ideas. The first conference of untouchables was organized
under leadership of Shahu Ji Maharaj (21-22
March) 1920 at Mangaon Kohlapur, Dr Ambedkar
was Chairman. The Maharaja told the gathering that they had found a leader in Dr Ambedkar who will
work for their amelioration.

Observing the pitiable condition of Backward
classes (SC's, St' & OBC's) in the field of education, Maharaja
ordered to close all community based
separate schools for Brahmin & Dalit Students. He closed sixteen separate schools opened only for the backward classes and ordered their merger with
common Government schools on 30th
September 1919. This forced students from
all sections of his subjects to study in common Government schools. He further ordered stringent punishment
for any student found observing
Untouchability in schools. He worked for Universalizing Education in Kohlapur
State. He sanctioned scholarships to
the students coming from the POOR AND Backward
Classes besides meritorious students.

As untouchables were forced from centuries
to live outside the Upper Caste
habitations. Their places of living were filth filled. They used to lift dead animals from the houses of the
upper Caste peoples, extracted their skins and ate the
carcasses. Mare shadow of an
Untouchable was considered to pollute upper Caste persons, not to speak of their touch. If an
untouchable had to go to market place,
he had to tie an earthen pot from his neck for spitting in it and a broom at his back to clean his foot
prints from the path else they
pollute a Brahmin following him. Untouchables then were forbidden to wear clean clothes, turbans as
head gears, keep moustaches, ride a horse on marriages or
festivals times, wear ornaments, send their
children to schools or have water from common
well or tank , use Rest Places or serve in Government department except as
sweepers. Shahu Ji Maharaj appointed his Coachman from among the untouchables, who served Maharajaas his personal assistance. Maharaj Ji used to
take tea, water, and meals from the
untouchable houses to show that he himself does not observe
untouchability from the core of his
heart and shall punish anybody observing it
howsoever high caste he or she may belong
to. Observance of Untouchability in any form in any Government establishment was banned on 15th,
January 1919 and erring persons
ordered to be punished. The village officers (Patil & Talathi) were made answerable for non
compliance of His Highness's orders
by any body.

On the invitation of the Justice Party
government of the Raja of
Panagal better known as Sir Panaganti Ramarayaningar KCIE, (1866-1928) Chhatarpati Shahu Ji Maharaj while
addressing meeting in Madras he said, "I am here
not as a king but friend to those ,whose pitiful
condition shall melt even a stone hearted person.
Raja of Pangal was an active in the All-India Non-Brahmin movement. He was a friend of Shahu Ji Maharaj and
was closely associated with the Satya Shodhak Samaj movement.
Raja of Panagal was Chief Minister or
Premier of Madras Presidency from July
11, 1921 to December 3, 1926. Raja of Panagal introduced reservations for
backward classes in government jobs in 1921.

In Kohlapur out of 71 State Government
officers, 60 were Brahmins and 11 non
Brahmins but non from Backward classes. Backward classes included all classes of peoples excluding
Brahmins, Prabhus, Shenis Parsis and other
advanced classes. So he dared
to negate the Laws of Manu and Manusmiriti by sanctioning 50% Reservation for the backward Classes in
Kohlapur State Services on 26th July 1902
for government department's posts. This was his 28th birthday gift
to his people against the tough
opposition from upper caste Brahmin Ministers who numbered over 98% in his Cabinet. . As per the Laws of
Manu in Manusmiriti 100% dignified jobs and services
including those of temple priests
were reserved for Brahmins( Twice born) and people coming from Upper Castes. He issued instructions to his
Dewan during his London visit to get issued this
Royal Order and stressed

its application in his State forthwith with warning that
erring officers daring non compliance to it, be
removed from the service of the
state Of Kohlapur.

Details of Employment in services are given below (Before
and after the issue of this order);

EmploymentYearBrahminsNon Brahmins with Marathas
includedUntouchables

Govt Depts.18946011Nil

Private Sector18944607Nil

No of students18942,5228,088234

GovtDepts.19222659Nil

Private Sector19224310901

No of students19222,72221,0272,164

Note;- Population of Brahmins was 3% of the total populationof the State of Kohlapur.

His great grandfather Chhatarpati Shiva Ji the other Great Maratha king, were treated with contempt by
Brahmins, so they cared little for praises or irk of Brahmins. But Shahu
Ji passed laws to allow training of non-Brahmin males as temple priests. He passed orders declaring religious places
properties as Kohlapur State
properties. He ordered that the appointment of Shanka-achariyas
in future shall be with approval from Kohlapur State authority. He abolished Kulkarni system and
appointed Kshatrya Jagadguru ringing
a bells of reasons, secularism for his subjects. He approved conducting of marriages without a Brahmin priest as valid
marriage. He promoted inter caste marriages among his subjects. Many good hearted Brahmins like V.D.
Topkhane, Gopal Krishan Gokhale, and
Raja ram Shastri supported the progressive efforts of the Maharaja issued for the welfare of his subjects. Shahu Ji was associated with many progressive activities
in the society

including education for women. He was greatly influenced
by the contributions of social reformer Jyotiba
Phule and Satya Sodhak Samaj
principles. Primary education to all regardless of caste and creed was one of the significant moves of the
King.

His orders dated 22August 1919 granting equal treatment to
Untouchables by all Kohlapur State officers was strong and clear. All employees of his state including those
serving in Municipal Boards were to
get facilities of Provident fund. The curse of forced labour was done away with under His Highness's
orders dated 3rd May,
1920. Even State Dewan, state Regent and all higher officers were ordered to comply with this and wags for the
any forced labour were ordered to be deducted in case of non compliance from the salary of the erring officer for
disbursement to the effected labourer. However it created ill will towards
Maharaj a by irrational thinking
superstitious Brahmins who were supported by Lokmanya Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak and some others. While
opposing right of higher Education to
Backward Classes, Tilak is on record to have said in one of his speech dated 11November,1917 ( Javatmal Maharashtra)" would the tailors use sewing
machine, the peasants that plough and the merchants the scale of balance in the
council" Tilak & congress
party was for the Backward classes peopled to follow their ancestral
trades, where only elementary education was needed. Determined to implement his
egalitarian thoughts the Maharaja was prepared to face all his adversaries
opposing these measures. On 15 April, 1920
Chhatarpati Shahu Ji Maharaj replied
thus to Tilak, "Tilak would have been ashamed of expressing such thoughts in his speech Brahmin V/s
Brahmantra. Tilak advised
untouchables not to take secondary education after primary education. He wanted them to learn the
crafts of their castes, thus he
believed in constitution of the caste profession for the untouchables
and not in giving them the higher education "However
Maharaja was not against Brahmins but Brahmanism and Brahminical ways and their halfhearted reforms. The plea forrunning governments on the principles of Manusmriti
was out rightly rejected by Shahu Ji
Maharaj.

He was unique in many ways. Against the
established principle of
suppression of the agitations by the trade unions demanding welfare measures. He encouraged them to strive hard to have their rights granted. Against stiff opposition
from the upper Caste Officers he
appointed a non Brahmin Mr. Bhaskarrao Jadhav in his State services. Since Mr. Bhaskarrao Jadhav had high qualities of head and heart earning distinctions in the M. A
LL.B academic examinations,
Bhaskarrao Jadhav proved good fried of Maharaja and Kohlapur along with downtrodden state subjects. Many good works done in Kolhapur bear his contributions.
Later Maharaja persuaded him to
contest elections for the office under Montage-Chelmsford Reforms of
1921. He served as an able Minister in Bombay
Government from 1923-1930. He contributed in carrying forward the activities of the Satya Shodak
Samaj established by Mahatma
Phule. Mr. Bhaskarrao Jadhav proved a corner stone in founding non Brahmin
Movement in Bombay Presidency.An OBC person under the amended Reservation Rules
was appointed a clerk in judiciary
services. A Brahmin j udge complained against
this employee to the Maharaja as being unworthy and so for his dismissal. Upon this Maharaja said to the
judge that he leave this man to you (judge) for a month, and you make
him worthy by injecting your qualities in
him else you (judge) shall be dismissed. This man remained with the
judge for three months without any work
assigned to him, but the judge gave him certificate of bring meritorious. Thus failed the plan of the Brahmin judge to get ousted an untouchable from service on
flimsy grounds.

Shahu Ji Maharaj not only did pioneering social reforms
but also he got executed many developmental and
other welfare works. In 1909 the construction in
Ratnagari a dam creating Maharani Laxmi
Tank with another twenty new tanks bringing revolution in the Irrigation and drinking water systems. He built
hostels for students. He started work of Shau Chhatarpati Spinning and Weaving Mills in 1906. Many reforms were initiated
to improve existing commerce,
industry, judiciary, policing, crime reduction means. He saw to it that rules are for the betterment of people not to harass them.

The state bureaucracy was from Brahmins, Prabhus, Shenis
and Parsis who always created hurdles in
Maharaj's welfare measure for the
Untouchables. So Maharaja took harsh but necessary decisions without fear and favour. He proved
that he was the king and his authority was supreme. At a stage he was
convinced that the bureaucracy will not allow to flourish him introduce progressive welfare measures; so he
dissolved the Council of
Administration with member consisting of Dewan of Kohlapur state, Chief Justice, Chief Revenue
officer all from the upper castes. He created the Huzur Office or
secretariat of the Chhatarpati by appointing
his Ex. Teacher R. V. Sabnis as its head . There after all orders of His
Highness were issued under his signatures by
him. R. V. Sabnis belonged to lower caste Kayastha and his appointment was resisted by Brahmins
saying as per Religious rules no
lower caste employee can be appointed on higher rank post than Brahmin and a Brahmin shall not serve under any lower
caste officer. Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj also appointed a non Brahmin Mr.
Bhaskarrao Jadhav for superior in merit than the Brahmins. Maharaja also terminated the services of an arrogant Brahmin
teacher who refused to teach Untouchable students in school. He also opened 21 boarding houses for students from all castes of Kohlapur State.

Rajarshi Chhatrapati
Shahu Ji Maharaj always lent helping hands by all means to anybody from
untouchables found in distress. He met Dr B.R. Ambedkar a number of times
during 1917-1921. They were introduced by Dattoba Pawar and Dittoba Dalvi
(artist) and their association lost till the sudden end of shahu Ji Maharaj in
1922.

When Dr Ambedkar expressed his desire to start a fortnightly
newspaper to bring an awakening among Dalits ShahuJi Maharaj denoted Rs 2,500.00 for this noble cause. Dr
Ambedkar started " Mooknayak" (Leader
of the Dumb ) on 31st January ,1920. Also when Dr Ambedkar faced financial problems in completion of his higher studies in September
1921. Shahu Ji sent him Rs750.00 with
assurance that he can write for any such help to him any time. Again Shahu Ji Maharaj sent a cheque
worth Rs1500.00 to Dr Ambedkar at his London
address on 5th October 1921.
When Mooknayak landed in financial distressed Shahu Ji Maharaj pulled it out by donating Rs750.00
in January 1921and Rs1000.00 on21stFebuary,1921.

As per the law of the nature who so ever is
born is to shed the mortal frame. Shahu Ji Maharaj fell in the category of
people , who live for others and they are remembered ages after their demise.
Shatarpati Ji Maharaj suddenly passed away on 6th May, 1922 at a prime age of
48 years. He was survived by his wife, his elder son Rajaram and his daughter
Radhabai .

Rajrishi Chhatarpati shahu Ji Maharaj has left indelible mark in the history of
India. He worked with dedication,
strength, intelligent and exerted his authority despite many hurdles. He shall go in the history of
Indian Dalit empowerment movement. Our best tributes to
the departed Satarpati shall be to remember his contribution, sacrifices and
courage to work for his set goals of Dalit empowerment besidesfor welfare of all countrymen.